Comments on: My Very Old Computer, But Not My Desk http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/ a Daniel Howell blog Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:40:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Hal http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 Hal Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:06:19 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1775 Warnings about inkjet ink costs are true. I had a very good wide format epson for around 7 years before it conked out. Bought a humble little $99 Canon ip4600, and it is fine. Only proviso is ya have turn it on for quite awhile before you start using it because on startup it seems to floss itself and maybe adjust its braces and gargles too for a longgggg time before it is ready to spit anything out.... (at the lowest quality level it prints BandW documents at incredible speed) Warnings about inkjet ink costs are true.

I had a very good wide format epson for around 7 years before it conked out.

Bought a humble little $99 Canon ip4600, and it is fine. Only proviso is ya have turn it on for quite awhile before you start using it because on startup it seems to floss itself and maybe adjust its braces and gargles too for a longgggg time before it is ready to spit anything out….

(at the lowest quality level it prints BandW documents at incredible speed)

]]> By: Trev http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1773 Trev Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:42:09 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1773 Canon Pixma My Epson printers visited the shop every 6 months until each died in turn. The Canon is legendary, it just goes and goes and goes. It's also at least twice the weight of the Epsons I had which I like. Canon Pixma
My Epson printers visited the shop every 6 months until each died in turn. The Canon is legendary, it just goes and goes and goes. It’s also at least twice the weight of the Epsons I had which I like.

]]> By: Fnarth http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1770 Fnarth Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:26:17 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1770 I just recently bought a Kodak injet/scanner (the one with built in wi-fi). I have had no problems with it and the ink really is cheaper. I was also impressed in its Mac-like simple setup. I expected a lot more pains in getting the wi-fi to work, but it went smooth. I just recently bought a Kodak injet/scanner (the one with built in wi-fi). I have had no problems with it and the ink really is cheaper. I was also impressed in its Mac-like simple setup. I expected a lot more pains in getting the wi-fi to work, but it went smooth.

]]> By: Kestrel http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1769 Kestrel Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:15:49 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1769 I've long wanted a color laser printer, but when I look at the cost of toner--you pay for the printer all over again each time you need to change toner. For the quality you need, an HP or Canon (sorry, I no longer can in good conscience recommend Epson) inkjet. You might also investigate Kodak inkjets, as their replacement ink costs are considerably lower but the quality of their early models (2-3 years ago) wasn't up to that of the Canon or HP models. I’ve long wanted a color laser printer, but when I look at the cost of toner–you pay for the printer all over again each time you need to change toner. For the quality you need, an HP or Canon (sorry, I no longer can in good conscience recommend Epson) inkjet. You might also investigate Kodak inkjets, as their replacement ink costs are considerably lower but the quality of their early models (2-3 years ago) wasn’t up to that of the Canon or HP models.

]]> By: Theresa http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1767 Theresa Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:59:51 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1767 We just got a HP cp1518ni color laser - networked! - from Staples for $200. It's brilliant. Highly recommended! Has your son discovered http://www.kerpoof.com/? We just got a HP cp1518ni color laser – networked! – from Staples for $200. It’s brilliant. Highly recommended!

Has your son discovered http://www.kerpoof.com/?

]]> By: Riverter http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1766 Riverter Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:59:11 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1766 I'm a network admin for a medium sized school district and I agree with allot of what others have stated. However you need to ask yourself some questions that I don't know if others have really touched on. Are you going to keep your son's mater pieces for some time in the future? Or is it a print it out show to daddy, then it's 86 in the trash can? If your going to keep it a while then I would go with a decent home/office laser. They are down around 300 and the toner is not to bad and more cost efficient. However do not buy them if you are going to want to print out photo's cause you will be disappointed. Cheapest way there I still believe is to take it to your local wal-mart or what have you and do the printing there. I’m a network admin for a medium sized school district and I agree with allot of what others have stated. However you need to ask yourself some questions that I don’t know if others have really touched on.

Are you going to keep your son’s mater pieces for some time in the future? Or is it a print it out show to daddy, then it’s 86 in the trash can? If your going to keep it a while then I would go with a decent home/office laser. They are down around 300 and the toner is not to bad and more cost efficient. However do not buy them if you are going to want to print out photo’s cause you will be disappointed. Cheapest way there I still believe is to take it to your local wal-mart or what have you and do the printing there.

]]> By: Wavemancali http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1765 Wavemancali Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:52:07 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1765 Personally I'd go with a color laser if you aren't going to print photos and these days, I very rarely print photos at home because I discovered it is much much cheaper to use Walgreen's online photo processing and they will mail things to you or you can pick them up in the store nearest you. Using this is at least 350% cheaper than buying ink, no matter what size you are going to print. Color lasers have come down hugely in price. I personally recommend the Xerox Phaser 6125 or 6130. Great quality, nice color, not a huge size, good speed, reasonably priced consumables, great name. I purchased mine at Newegg.com and got a free mini laptop with it so I couldn't pass up the deal. If you really think you want to print ultra high quality stuff and want to stick in the inkjet realm, you can't beat Epson. Personally I’d go with a color laser if you aren’t going to print photos and these days, I very rarely print photos at home because I discovered it is much much cheaper to use Walgreen’s online photo processing and they will mail things to you or you can pick them up in the store nearest you. Using this is at least 350% cheaper than buying ink, no matter what size you are going to print.

Color lasers have come down hugely in price. I personally recommend the Xerox Phaser 6125 or 6130. Great quality, nice color, not a huge size, good speed, reasonably priced consumables, great name.

I purchased mine at Newegg.com and got a free mini laptop with it so I couldn’t pass up the deal.

If you really think you want to print ultra high quality stuff and want to stick in the inkjet realm, you can’t beat Epson.

]]> By: homegrownstrawberries http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1763 homegrownstrawberries Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:52:15 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1763 My advice, My daughter loves to print our her work, but (right now) we only have this massive and ancient HP laser jet 4 plus that has toner problems. I used to have a multi function, that problem with those is net working. As in they hate it you see as they already do everything they don't think they need to talk to the commoners and only want to work with one system which is not the end of the world but means you need to put everything on a pen drive move it to the system it likes or constantly fight to keep it working on the network. I suggest an alternative to printing which as worked as we no longer have the colored printer. Make him a blog that he can post the pictures to. My Girl love it because it just like what mommy does and she can show it off to friends and family. My advice, My daughter loves to print our her work, but (right now) we only have this massive and ancient HP laser jet 4 plus that has toner problems. I used to have a multi function, that problem with those is net working. As in they hate it you see as they already do everything they don’t think they need to talk to the commoners and only want to work with one system which is not the end of the world but means you need to put everything on a pen drive move it to the system it likes or constantly fight to keep it working on the network.

I suggest an alternative to printing which as worked as we no longer have the colored printer. Make him a blog that he can post the pictures to. My Girl love it because it just like what mommy does and she can show it off to friends and family.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1762 Joshua Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:41:35 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1762 I work for Office Depot, and sell printers for a living. Questions you want to ask is: "How long will you be printing in color?" Color laser printers are a HUGE upfront cost compared to color laser printers, but over time (think a year or two) you will make up most is not all of the upfront cost from toner. So if your son is pron to liking something for 2 months then never using it again, I'd use a ink jet printer. "How much do you care about print quality?" Laser will give you awesome quality, but you will pay for that quality, mostly in the up front cost of the printer, and in the first two years of use (on average). If quality doesn't matter to you, then a ink jet is looking more like a viable option. From those two answers you should have a good idea of what kind you want. That being said, if you go with an Ink Jet, spend a little more, you will get a better printer, better prints, and the ink costs less. If you go for a color laser printer, you should be able to get one of the cheaper ones. **BIG NOTE:** What ever printer you get, be sure to look at the total cost of all ink for the printer, and look at the total costs of ink for the other printers you might get. Toner will ALWAYS cost more then ink, but toner will ALWAYS last longer then ink. I work for Office Depot, and sell printers for a living. Questions you want to ask is:
“How long will you be printing in color?” Color laser printers are a HUGE upfront cost compared to color laser printers, but over time (think a year or two) you will make up most is not all of the upfront cost from toner. So if your son is pron to liking something for 2 months then never using it again, I’d use a ink jet printer.

“How much do you care about print quality?” Laser will give you awesome quality, but you will pay for that quality, mostly in the up front cost of the printer, and in the first two years of use (on average). If quality doesn’t matter to you, then a ink jet is looking more like a viable option.

From those two answers you should have a good idea of what kind you want. That being said, if you go with an Ink Jet, spend a little more, you will get a better printer, better prints, and the ink costs less. If you go for a color laser printer, you should be able to get one of the cheaper ones.

**BIG NOTE:** What ever printer you get, be sure to look at the total cost of all ink for the printer, and look at the total costs of ink for the other printers you might get. Toner will ALWAYS cost more then ink, but toner will ALWAYS last longer then ink.

]]> By: Nonproductive http://www.dphowell.com/2009/06/22/my-very-old-computer-but-not-my-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 Nonproductive Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:24:59 +0000 http://www.dphowell.com/?p=228#comment-1760 I was struggling with the 2 printer desk space - black and white laser + color inkjet. So I picked up a Brother color Laser for a song during a sale - $250. It prints beautifully but toner cartridges - there are 5 of them - are $85 a piece. Ouch! However, if you do the math - I was spending about $50 a month for inkjet printer ink - getting about 200 pages to a set of cartridges (of mixed photo printing and text). That works out to roughly .25 a page. The $425 of toner cartridges yield about 5000 pages. That's less then .10 a page. So the initial outlay was rough - but I like having 1 printer and in the end it is costing me less. The one major downside is that the printer is BIG and heavy. Still less overall desk space then the 2 other printers, but hernia inducing when it needs to be moved. I was struggling with the 2 printer desk space – black and white laser + color inkjet. So I picked up a Brother color Laser for a song during a sale – $250.
It prints beautifully but toner cartridges – there are 5 of them – are $85 a piece. Ouch!

However, if you do the math – I was spending about $50 a month for inkjet printer ink – getting about 200 pages to a set of cartridges (of mixed photo printing and text). That works out to roughly .25 a page. The $425 of toner cartridges yield about 5000 pages. That’s less then .10 a page. So the initial outlay was rough – but I like having 1 printer and in the end it is costing me less.

The one major downside is that the printer is BIG and heavy. Still less overall desk space then the 2 other printers, but hernia inducing when it needs to be moved.

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